Key receiver and time checking



July 28, 1953 E. F. KOPECKY 4 KEY RECEIVER AND TIME CHECKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 12, 1949 FIG. 2

TO uov. LINE FIG. 3

INVENTOR. EUGENE E KOPECKY Patented July 28, 1953 KEY RECEIVER AND TIME CHECKING APPARATUS Eugene F. Kopecky, San Diego, Calif.

Application September 12, 1949, Serial No. 115,269

6 Claims. (01. 346-) My invention relates to a key receiver and time checking apparatus, more particularly for use in checking the time during the day or night of the return of keys of rented automobiles, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a time checking apparatus of this class which will concurrently receive keys of several difierent motor vehicles, and record successively the different times of day or night when said keys are returned or deposited therein;

Second, to provide a time checking apparatus of this class which receives diiferent sets of keys in certain consecutive order relative to each other, records the time said respective sets of keys are returned consecutively, so that the operator of a vehicle rental service or the like may determine exactly what time of the day or night certain keys of a certain vehicle are returned, so that the renter of said vehicle may be properly charged for the accurate amount of time he rented the vehicle in question;

Third, to provide a time checking apparatus of this class which may be employed to record consecutively the time a plurality of articles are consecutively deposited therein;

Fourth, to provide a time checking apparatus of this class which is provided with a very simple switch gate and a plurality of superimposed receivers, each of which automatically pivots out of interference with the next lower receiver, permitting each respective superimposed receiver to operate consecutively, so that the first article deposited is the uppermost, and the last article deposited is the lowermost;

Fifth, to provide a time checking apparatus of this class which employs a time clock in connection with a plurality of coin receivers, whereby" Sixth, to provide a time checking apparatus of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, eilicient in operation, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

-With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational View of the keyreceiving mechanism of my time checking apparatus, showing a portion of the key-receiving chute thereof broken away and in section to amplify the illustration; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the time clock of my time checking apparatus, showing the key-actuated switch diagrammatically in connection therewith.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The casing l, chute 2, key receivers 3, switch gate 4, switch 5, and time clock 6 constitute the principal parts and portions of my time checking apparatus.

The casing i may be made of sheet metal or other similar material, having an open back portion to which is inaccessible to the patrons of the time checking apparatus. This rear side to may be provided with an enclosure, if desired, but is preferably positioned within the interior of the wall A, which may be the external wall of a building or the like, through which the chute 2 extends at its open end 211. This chute 2 communicates with the upper interior of the casing I, in which the switch gate 4 is pivotally mounted on the pin 4a. Fixed to the switch gate 4 is a counter-balance arm 4b, having adjustable counter-weights 4c thereon. These adjustable counter-weights 4c permit the adjustment of the balance of the gate 4 to accommodate a specific weight of keys deposited through the chute 2.

Fixed to the pin M at the opposite end thereof from the counter-balance arm portion 4b is the switch 5. This switch 5 is preferably a conventional mercury switch which is arranged in cir cuit with the time clock 6, which is a conventional time clock, adapted to consecutively record time intervals on a strip of paper, each time the switch 5 is closed. The key receivers 3 are all arranged in superimposed spaced relationship, and are mounted on stationary pins 30. in the casing l, and are adapted to pivot thereabout, and shift to a dash line position B, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, wherein they engage stop pins 311, wherein they are out of interference with the passage of keys downwardly from the switch gate 4.

It will be noted that each key receiver 3 is provided with a receptacle portion 30, which is adapted to support keys which initially engage the inclined plate portions 3d, which causes the keys to gravitate into the receptacle portions 30, over center of the pins 3a, which causes the key receivers 3 to consecutively pivot into the dash line position B when receiving a set of keys.

The operation of my time checking apparatus is substantially as follows: When said time checking apparatus is installed in a vehicle rental agency oflice or the like, of which the wall A forms a part, the renters of vehicles, when returning the same, maydrop the keys of the respective vehicles into the open end 2a of the chute 2, which conveys the keys onto the switch gate 4, and the weight of the keys pivots the switch gate 4 about the axis of the pin 4a into the dash line position C, whereupon the keys fall from the switch gate 4 onto an inclined portion 3d of the key receivers 3. As the keys gravitate downwardly on the inclined portion 3d, they pass the axis of the pin 3a, causing the particular key receiver to pivot into the dash line position B, whereupon the keys are in the receptacle portion 30, and it rests against the pin 3?). It will be noted that each time a set of keys is placed in the chute 2, and they contact the switch gate 4, the switch 5 is pivoted concurrently with the pivotal movement of the switch gate 4, closing the circuit to the time clock 6, which records the time that particular set of keys enters the switch gate 4. Thus, the first time record on the time clock 5 coincides with the time that the first set of keys was received in the uppermost key receiver 3. As the next set of keys passes through the switch gate 4, the time clock 6 is again operated and the secondary set of keys by-passes the uppermost key receiver 3, which has been pivoted to the dash line position B, placing the inclined portion 3d out of interference with the vertical drop of the keys, so that the secondary set of keys engages the next lower ramp 3d of the next lowermost key receiver 3. Thus, sets of keys are consecutively received and consecutively placed in the next lowermost key receiver 3, so that the superimposed relationship of the sets of keys in the time checking apparatus coincides with the consecutive times recorded by the time clock 6 on the strip therein. Thus, the proprietor of a vehicle rental agency or other similar business may check the exact time on which certain vehicles were returned to the renter. The renter may then be billed accordingly.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, 1 do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a time checking apparatus, a time clock, electrical switch means in connection therewith, a key chute, a plurality of pivoted superimposed key receivers normally aligned with said chute and adapted to consecutively receive keys and to pivot with the weight of said keys out of alignment with said chute, and means above said key receivers for operating said switch means each time keys are received in one of said key receivers.

2. In a time checking apparatus, a time clock, electrical switch means in connection therewith,

i a key chute, a plurality of pivoted superimposed key receivers normally aligned with said chute and adapted to consecutively receive keys and to pivot with the weight of said keys out of alignment with said chute, and means above said key receivers for operating said switch means each time keys are received in one of said key receivers, said key receivers having pivoted portions extending into alignment with each other and said key chute, and consecutively pivotable out of alignment with each other at their receiving portions when engaged by the keys.

3. In a time checking apparatus, a plurality of pivoted receivers, a chute adapted to convey articles into and above said receivers, said receivers being pivotally mounted in superimposed relationship to each other, and having portions extending into interfering relation below said chute and pivotable out of interfering relationship below said chute upon receiving an article delivered therefrom, a switch, gate means in the upper portion of said chute for actuating said switch each time an article is dropped into said chute and onto said gate, and a time clock in electrical circuit with said switch.

4. In a time checking apparatus, a plurality of pivoted receivers, a. chute adapted to convey articles into and above said receivers, said receivers being pivotally mounted in superimposed relationship to each other, and having portions extending into interfering relation below said chute and pivotable out of interfering relationship below said chute upon receiving an article delivered therefrom, switch means operative concurrently with the dropping of an article through said chute, and a time clock in circuit with said switch means for recording the exact time an article is passed through said chute.

5. In a time checking apparatus, a key chute, a plurality of pivoted superimposed consecutively operated key receivers, normally aligned with said chute and adapted to pivot with the weight of keys accepted thereby, key operated switch means above said key receivers, and a time clock in circuit with said switch means, adapted to consecutively record the time that keys are dropped in said key chute.

6. In a time checking apparatus, a key chute, a plurality of pivoted superimposed consecutively operated key receivers mounted in said chute, said key receivers having inclined portions and receptacle portions in angularly opposed relationship to each other, a pivot for each of said key receivers below the upper edges of said inclined and receptacle portions, switch means above said key receivers, and a time clock in circuit with said switch means, whereby the time keys are dropped in said chute is recorded.

EUGENE F. KOPECKY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 325,124 Smith Aug. 25, 1885 469,789 Laves Mar. 1, 1892 575,048 Benham Jan. 12, 1897 688,264 Read Dec. 3, 1901 898,313 Cain et al. Sept. 8, 1908 940,851 Bretschneider Nov. 23, 1909 1,027,797 Bates May 28, 1912 

